The International Worship Leaders Conference took place in Providence this last weekend. It was the first time ever that the representatives from the churches in the former Soviet Union took part in this event.
We - Ivan and Masha Lyashenko - were so happy to come from Kiev Church and to bring you
greetings from the brothers and sisters from the EDGE! We felt it was a privilege for us. The fact that Boston Church celebrated the second part of its 30th anniversary at the same time made it even more special. We in Eurasian churches are all grateful for Boston church and the way it has been carrying the torch of discipleship these last 30 years.
We were so encouraged to see in Providence many brothers and sisters who came to Kiev last year for the International Leadership Conference "The EDGE".
The worship at this Conference in Providence was so various - from a-capella hymns to the worship bands and holy hip-hop with BIG CITY - and you should have seen the dances! It was great to sing the same songs we sing in Russian in our churches all over the USSR - but to sing now in English and with our brothers and sisters who came to worship from many places.
We took part in showcases program and presented several songs originally written in Russian by disciples. We sing these song for our worship. Hope you'll like them too and will sing them in English, dear friends.
Another great thing was to sing again "THE EDGE" - a theme song of our last year ILC - to sing it together with Darin Ford (Seattle), Susan Wedin (Phoenix) and Brian Craig (LA). It was a huge encouragement for all of us.
The program of conference was very intense. We had a great chance to be lead in worship by the teams, the leaders and even the bands from different cities and participate in different workshops and classes.
Especially wonderful was to see the evangelists, leaders of our churches and even elders and their wives participating in worship: people like Jeff S
chachinger (CT) who played sax and who was in charge of the organization of the WLC, Darin Ford (Seattle), Teresa Brown (NYC), Mark Ayasse and his wife Laura (Boston), Carol McGuirk (Boston), Susan Wedin (Phoenix) who was singing with us for our showcase. And even Mark Buchholz had to lead "Jesus is Lord" after Tom Brown had finished his great sermon with this song leaving the whole congregation worshipping in awe this last Sunday.
We learned a lot from the lessons about how to be true worshippers and to rejoice in the Lord. Thank you dear brothers: Dave Eastman, Darin Ford and Brian Craig and all the others who were sharing your convictions about worship.
The spirit of JOY truly fell on all of us this last weekend. We are ready to lift up our voices and to rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!
Masha Lyashenko
Kiev Church of Christ, Ukraine